Shortmarket Club reintroduces popular Prix Fixe winter lunch menu
5 Jul 2018
Winter in Cape Town may be a gloomy and rainy affair yet cosy fireplaces, red wine quaffing, and hearty plates make the idea of heading out to dine super appealing. Add to this, the fact that winter time in the culinary world usually offers the opportunity to cash in on some great specials at some of our finest local restaurants and you have the perfect ingredients and excuse for a lunch or dinner out.
One such winter special that offers some serious value is the Shortmarket Club which has reintroduced its popular Prix Fixe winter lunch menu.
Shortmarket Club is one of three restaurants partnered by well-renowned and multiple award-winning Chef Luke Dale-Roberts.
All three restaurants have received their fair share of accolades; The Test Kitchen took 50th place at the recent World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards 2018, while the Pot Luck Club was ranked number 10, and the Shortmarket Club was placed eighth at the 2017 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards, so you can be assured you’ll be receiving top quality award-winning dishes.
The Shortmarket Club sees Luke Dale-Roberts’ wife, Sandalene Dale-Roberts, Chef Wesley Randles, and manager Simon Widdison making up the core team.
“This three-course menu is ideal for a quick lunch that delivers on flavour, and it’s ideal for local business people to enjoy,” says manager Simon Widdison.
Opulent winter dining
Tucked along Shortmarket street in the CBD the ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ entrance belies the fact that once up the dark narrow corridor and staircase you’ll pop out into a spacious, inviting, and opulent space with a dark, jewel-like colour palate, comfy booths, and vintage touches. A perfect winter dining venue.
The Prix Fixe menu changes regularly, however, you may expect a tasty, beautifully-plated, and exceptionally well-balanced three-course meal, as well as freshly baked bread with ricotta and a unique amuse-bouche. A carafe of wine can be added at an additional cost.
A touch of theatre
I recently tested out the new winter lunch and loved every bite.
For starters we were treated to Sambal oelek tuna belly with birds eye chilli, basil, fresh lime, and sesame seeds, this was dramatically seared at our table by heating and then pouring coconut oil over the dish. The flavours were impeccably balanced and the touch of chilli really elevated this dish.
For mains we were presented with perfectly grilled red sea bream served with a tangy lemon and tarragon velouté, a slice of fried panisse (a chickpea flour cake), green bulgur wheat, roasted turnip, and the most amazing garlicy smoked mussel aioli.
Dessert delivered with a fresh yet comforting rhubarb crumble, made from rusk and shortbread crumbs, atop pine-nut ice cream and a mascarpone catalan.
For an indulgent weekday lunch or a lazy weekend linger the new Prix Fixe winter lunch menu is a must try, don’t miss out!
The three-course Prix Fixe winter lunch menu at The Shortmarket Club is priced at R280 per person, or R380 per person including a carafe of Paul Cluver wine. It is available at lunchtime only, Monday to Saturday, until the end of September 2018. The Shortmarket Club is located at 88 Shortmarket Street and is open for lunch and dinner daily (closed Sundays).
Bookings should be made online via their website: www.theshortmarketclub.co.za, however, tables may also be reserved telephonically on (27) (21) 447 2874.
*Ruth Cooper was a guest of Shortmarket Club.
